More Truth, More Clarity

Sat is truth as I had posted last week. Satya is truthfulness or the practice of truth and is the second Yama detailed in the Yoga Sutra. I can never say or write enough about these somewhat intangible practices of yoga. Asana and breath work are easy to describe and demonstrate whereas the Yama and Niyama can be easy to translate and define but difficult to put into practice.

The practice of Yama and Niyama often hit roadblocks because of the Kleshas (corruptions of the mind). Ignorance and ego playing big roles in scuttling a successful yoga practice in the context of Yama and Niyama.

One effective way to diminish the effects of the Kleshas is to accept mistakes and dishonesty and pronounce, with enthusiastic apologies, moments when you are wrong. The ego, more times than not, is unwilling to accept mistakes. This is a selfish mechanism used to preserve some illusory self-imposed reputation. Interestingly, deepening trust and respect is gained by those humble and truthful enough to own up to past misdeeds.

In maintaining and refining the practices of truth and the others (Yama and Niyama), our ability to understand reality becomes more likely. A mind that is corrupted by ego and ignorance has an inability to understand reality simply because the mind will continue to obscure the truth. To realize Sat then it’s imperative we put into practice the virtues of Truthfulness, Respect and Humility.